The menu and activity choices for the block party organized by Wayne and Christi Williams of Amarillo are more extensive. Their experience smoking meat for a ribs-on-a-stick booth at the Tri-State Fair pays off for their neighbors.

Wayne Williams, a patrolman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, smokes meat for the annual block party in Sleepy Hollow. Their neighbors bring side dishes and desserts.

Not Just For Kids: Antics and games aren't restricted to children at one Amarillo block party. Steve Williams, left, and Wayne Williams, right, participate in water-gun fun at a previous year's shindig.

Courtesy Photo

As usual, block parties are popular.

The city of Amarillo has several block parties on its calendar this weekend, according to George Gallegos, traffic technician for the city's Traffic Engineering Department. People who plan block parties, festivals, parades and races in Amarillo schedule them through Gallegos.

This summer, Gallegos has scheduled them on Almond Avenue, on La Paloma Street, on Julie Drive and on Palo Duro Street.

"They are all over, but I can't say that the west side has more than the north side," Gallegos said. "It's really pretty even."

The city of Amarillo offers these guidelines for people who organize block parties.

1) Block parties must include fewer than 200 people. Parties for more than 200 people are termed "festivals" and must comply with a separate set of guidelines.

2) Neighbors must apply for a block party permit from the city of Amarillo at least 14 days before the party.

3) Applications are accessible from the city of Amarillo through its Web site; visit www.ci.amarillo.tx.us, click on "Traffic Engineering" and then on "Block Parties and Races." Applicants also can call the city Traffic Engineering Department or visit the department office at City Hall, 509 E. Seventh Ave., second floor.

4) Applicants must get approval from more than 70 percent of owners or occupants of property fronting the street to be closed, and all property owners should be informed. Only residential streets can be blocked off for parties.

5) Block party organizers must provide their own street barricading. It must be easily moved and highly visible. Vehicles cannot be used as barricades.

6) Trash must be picked up, music must end and the street must re-opened by 10 p.m.

7) Organizers are liable for damage to city property.

8) Approved applicants should receive a letter granting permission from the city of Amarillo.

Residents of other cities should check with their city traffic or police departments for block party guidelines, regulations or permission.

Source: city of Amarillo Traffic Engineering Department

Most parties start about graduation time and peak in late summer.

"I'll have block parties on through October," Gallegos said.

Anyone planning a late summer or early fall block party should contact the city traffic department in advance, Gallegos said.

"We just want to know where they are going on so we can let the police department, fire department, street department, transit - anyone having anything to do with street (activities) - know about the street being closed."

Rules don't require residents' signatures for block party permits, but the city asks that organizers inform all neighbors and get approval from 70 percent or more of the residents along the street.

The street to be blocked must be in a residential area. Arterial streets and thoroughfares such as Tyler Street or Teckla Boulevard carry too much traffic to be closed for parties, he said.

The Williamses organized their neighborhood's first block party after they moved in more than three years ago because they had participated in one in their previous neighborhood. Other neighbors have helped in subsequent years.

"Wayne and I were just getting to know everybody, and we decided to have a block party to get to know the neighbors in the rest of the block," Christi Williams said.

Now it's an annual event that includes not only a covered-dish meal, but softball, croquet or other outdoor games and water fights for both adults and children.

The annual water fights started by chance. Children had water balloon and water pistol fights; then the adults got in on the action.

"Adults are almost worse than the little kids," Christi Williams said. "I know the fireman next door bought a huge water gun. We have a medium-size one. Nearly all of the adults have big water guns."

No one complains much about getting soaked, she said. Organizers established an "off-limits zone" near the food area. So anyone who wants to watch but not participate in the antics can stay dry.

The Williamses said the parties allow them to keep in touch with neighbors.

Christi Williams said she and her neighbors have their party in the afternoon. Participants pay $5 to help cover the cost of meat and bring lawn chairs, card tables and blankets. Last year, about 25 people attended, and the number grows each year.

To spread the word, the Williams put notices on mailboxes. The Ritcheys print invitations on their computer.

The Plainview gathering, which started in a driveway, now takes place in a neighbor's back yard, Ritchey said. In its early years, many of the neighborhood's residents were teachers. Now, it's a mixture of young and old.

Whatever the location, Christi Williams suggests one rule for block party organizers: "Keep it simple, so everyone can enjoy it. If you start putting a whole lot of effort into it, it gets to be a chore and that takes a lot of the fun away."